WWE '12 Review

Another year, another WWE wrestling game! This time, the overall gameplay of WWE
changes a bit more than the past WWE games for the better. WWE'12 is developed
by Yuke's and published by THQ. It is the fourteenth game in a series of WWE
wrestling games and is the sequel to WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011. WWE'12 claims to
be "Bigger, Badder, Better" than its prequels and it seems to do so with its
changes.

The main modes in WWE'12 are the single player events, Universe and Road to
Wrestlemania. The single player events are one match of either one on one, two
on two, triple threat, fatal 4-way, 6-man, handicap, or specialty. A player can
choose a character or opponent and battle it out to try out each of the games
events. Universe mode features a line-up of WWE events such as Raw and Smackdown
and allows the player to decide the results for each match. A player can choose
any character in a match and play that character, simulate the match to quickly
decide a victor or have a wrestler interfere with the match. The whole event
play list goes throughout the calendar year. Universe was my personal favorite
mode overall since it feels much more like the actual WWE show and it allows for
a lot more player control than Road to Wrestlemania.

Road to Westlemania is a story mode that has three main characters for each of
its three acts. A player will play through as Sheamus, Triple H and a Create a
Superstar character as the story plays out. The cutscenes are all scripted and
depend on the player to rise as the victor for the story to continue. The
overall story and cutscenes are well done for this mode, but the characters that
a player can control are very limited most of the time. In triple threat
matches, you can control other wrestlers by tagging them in, but for the most
part, you are stuck controlling one of the three main characters.

WWE'12 features a new limb targeting system that makes holds a bit different
from the way they used to be done in previous WWE games. After grabbing an
opponent with the A button, a player can hold the RB button and tap Y, X, B or A
for an attack that will hit the opponent's head, left arm, right arm or legs
respectively. This allows a player to easily have control over damaging a
certain part of the opponent's body. Moves that are done in WWE'12 depend on how
much damage your opponent has taken.

The pins are different in WWE'12 as well. Pins are now harder to break out of
depending on how weakened a wrestler is. A bar appears on the screen and the
pinned player must hold down the A button to build up a meter and let go of the
button once the meter builds up to a certain indicator on the bar in order to
get out of a pin. WWE'12 also features "Dynamic Comebacks" that allow a player
to instantly gain two finishing moves and "Wake Up Taunts" where a player can
force a downed opponent to rise to his/her feet as the winning wrestler taunts
and then finish off the opponent with a finishing move.

As usual in a WWE wrestling game, the reversals play a big role in controlling a
match or gaining an upper hand. Once again, reversals are all about timing.
Pressing the RT button right before your opponent's attack connects will allow
your wrestler a chance to quickly counter your opponent's attack with a strike
or transferring your opponent into a wrestling hold.

The overall fighting in WWE'12 seems much more fluid than past Smackdown vs Raw
games and the overall experience feels much more like the actual WWE TV
programs. The wrestlers are all highly detailed and look very similar to their
real life persona. Stage entrances are just like the way they are on the actual
TV program and the voices make the experience much more realistic. The
announcers use several descriptions to highlight moves in a match and almost
never repeat the same lines. They talk more like they are having an actual
conversation when watching a match unfold instead of just shouting out quick
phrases to make you laugh. With Jerry Lawler's voice in the background, the wise
cracking is always there though! The stage entrances are still very over-the-top
and truly make a wrestler stand out. The Undertaker's dark presence is truly
brought to life with his entrance and Randy Orton's overly larger than life ego
is displayed well.

The cast of WWE'12 features a total of 46 playable wrestlers from the start - 40
males and 6 divas. The game also features several unlockable superstars that are
unlocked by playing the game. There is a Create a Superstar mode where a player
can create a wrestler, entrance, move-set, finisher, story, arena, logo or
highlight reel. As usual, all of the creation options are all detailed in
customization. All of the wrestling superstars can also be customized based on
their outfits. Each superstar has unlockable outfits that can be customized as
well.

Maybe it's the fighting game fan in me, but I still can't help but feel that a
WWE game should have some sort of training or tutorial mode like a fighting
game. Sure, the controls are easy, but it would be nice to have some sort of
mode that is like a sandbox for a player to mess around with and learn how to
play better instead of learning the new controls through on-screen text in a
menu. Just pressing the start button to beat up on a second player gets old
after a while with the need to make up new accounts to do so. I keep hoping for
this with each installment in the WWE series, but once again, it's not there.

WWE'12 is easily one of the best wrestling games I have played thus far. Its
Road to Wrestlemania mode is really its only flaw that stands out. It would be
much better to have a mode where we could enjoy playing with a variety of
superstars instead of only being able to control the ones that the story
follows. WWE'12 is loaded with content so it has a lot of replay value. The new
controls help out for making the overall wrestling action move fluid as well.
Overall, WWE'12 is the best looking and most up-to-date wrestling game out there
for now and one to check out if you're in the mood for some wrestling action!

The Good:
+ Looks and plays just like the WWE wrestling programs
+ The new gameplay controls work well

The Bad:
- Road to Wrestlemania is too limited and boring

Final Rating: 88%. WWE'12 changes up the gameplay controls and makes the overall wrestling experience more enjoyable than previous games in the series.